Piper PA-31-325 accident near Wilkesboro, North Carolina, May 3, 1988
On May 3, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-325, registered N34GK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wilkesboro, North Carolina (Wilkes County airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wilkesboro, North Carolina · Wilkes County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-325 · all PA-31-325s on the register
- Registration
- N34GK · no longer on the register · serial 31 7712049
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SLOWLY COLLAPSED DURING THE ROLL OUT. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, STRUCK A SIGN OFF THE RUNWAY EDGE AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS FOUND UNLOCKED DURING POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. THE AIRCRAFT HAD UNDERGONE MAINTENANCE A SHORT TIME BEFORE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,832 hours in all; 1,305 in this make and model; 173 in the last 90 days; 2,854 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 11, 1988; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540-F2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Aviation Company, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LBT Lumberton NC
- Destination: 1KB Wilkesboro NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0, 4,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from HKY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.